Vincent C. used to be a carpentry fitter, an alcoholic, a joint smoker and an occasional cocaine user and he has previously been convicted of domestic violence. The 43-year-old, one of dozens of men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot while she was drugged by her husband, is detained while the trial in southern France goes on. Two files were found on Dominique Pelicot's computer featuring his name: "night of 27 10 19 with vincent aged 3" and "night of 11 01 20 with vincent."
On Wednesday, October 9, Vincent C. was first questioned about his personality and became very emotional as he recalled the sudden death of his great-grandmother in front of his 8-year-old eyes. He was then questioned about the subject at hand. "Do you admit to the counts of aggravated rape with which you are charged?" the presiding judge Roger Arata asked him. "No," he replied.
Vincent C. usually visited the Coco.fr website on Saturday nights, when he'd come home after the village bistro had closed. "I was looking for people nearby. I wasn't attracted by forums, I wasn't there to chat for hours on end." With Dominique Pelicot, he said, "it was very quick. I logged on and, half an hour later, the appointment was made." The timing was perfect, Vincent C. lived "five minutes from Mazan," the town where the Pelicots lived. Plus, he claimed, he hadn't had much choice: "It's not a supermarket, is it, Coco!" Gisèle Pelicot rose and left the courtroom, accompanied by the psychologist who has been assisting her throughout the proceedings.
What followed was all clearly labeled in Dominique Pelicot's files. In the first: "Vincent, forced blow job," "me from in front," "Vincent cunni fuck." In the second, three months later, "fuck and suck Vincent," "fuck in turns Vincent and me."
'What have I got myself into?'
Interrogated by the presiding judge:
– "Did Madame Pelicot wake up at any point?"
– "No."
– "Did she express anything?"
– "No."
– "Was she able to give her consent?"
– "No."
– "When you left, after the first time, what did you say to yourself?"
– "What have I got myself into? I'd seen some couple things, but not like this."
Vincent C. elaborated:
– "I said to myself: 'That's weird.' I didn't say: 'This isn't right.'"
– "You didn't wonder if you could get in touch with the lady?"
– "I was looking for a fuck buddy. I don't think in those moments."
To Antoine Camus, one of Gisèle Pélicot's two lawyers, who asked him to clarify why he didn't admit to the charges, the accused explained that he recognized the "acts," but not that they were "rapes."
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